XPeng X9 in Front, Geely Galaxy V900 Behind: Domestic High-end MPVs to Boost Sales with EREV

Some car companies "refuse to make extended-range vehicles at all costs," yet more and more car companies are rushing to adopt extended-range technology. On the evening of January 20th, Geely Galaxy launched its new MPV model, the V900, which is also Geely Galaxy's first extended-range vehicle.

Previously, Xiaopeng's first extended-range model was also launched in the MPV segment. Judging from the current MPV market, hybrid MPVs have become a new dominant force, and extended-range technology may serve as another powerful tool for domestic high-end MPVs to boost sales volume.

Range extension seems to have become a mandatory choice for car manufacturers, even a lifeline.

However, facing a crowded extended-range vehicle market, the choice of the first extended-range model is undoubtedly a very cautious one for automakers that have joined the game later – sedan or SUV, which price range, what kind of configurations to offer... Once the planning goes wrong, it may not only fail to bring increment but also cause unnecessary internal competition with existing best-selling models, resulting in self-inflicted damage before even engaging the enemy.

As a result, MPVs have naturally become the choice with the lowest risk and the greatest opportunity. On one hand, even though domestic brands have been aggressively pushing into the MPV segment in recent years, MPVs are still not the most mainstream choice in the overall automotive market, leaving immense potential for growth. On the other hand, extended-range electric MPVs currently on sale remain a rarity, representing a "blue ocean" market track.

Geely Galaxy has chosen the V900 MPV as its first range-extended model. This move not only completes its product lineup but also enhances the competitiveness of Geely Galaxy's MPV offerings through range-extended power, which effectively eliminates range anxiety.

Previously, XPeng's first range-extended vehicle was also the MPV model XPeng X9. The range-extended powertrain, which eliminates range anxiety, combined with XPeng's own AI and autonomous driving capabilities, can reduce the resistance for XPeng to enter the range-extended market. Starting with a range-extended powertrain in an MPV model can also reduce the risk of trial and error.

Beyond helping automakers test the waters of the market, extended-range technology is also tasked with the heavy responsibility of driving sales volumes for domestic MPV brands.

Looking at the new energy vehicle market, range extension is indeed a magic weapon for boosting sales. Li Auto, AITO, and Leapmotor have all achieved sales miracles with range-extended models, and some automakers experiencing sales declines are also launching range-extended models in an attempt to make a comeback.

Meanwhile, for independent brands, moving upmarket is also a must. Given that profits still lag behind multinational automakers after a flurry of activity, high-end models naturally become the vanguards for boosting profits.

However, how to reduce the risks of breaking into the high-end market and ensure high-end models also sell in volume is a question that independent brands must consider. In this environment, "extended-range + high-end" is a perfect match.

Once dismissed by many automakers, extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) have now become a standard feature in many high-end domestic brand models. EREVs with pure electric ranges exceeding 400 km or even 500 km have emerged, such as the new generation IM LS6 and Leapmotor D19.

Range-extended vehicles not only avoid the high fuel consumption of gasoline cars and the range anxiety of pure electric vehicles, but also have lower manufacturing costs, making them very suitable for high-end models to achieve a big impact with a small investment.

Moreover, hybrid MPVs have already become the absolute mainstream in the current top-selling lists, including popular models such as the Wey Gaoshan, FAW Toyota Granvia, GAC Toyota Sienna, Denza D9 DM-i, and Lantu Dreamer PHEV, all of which are hybrid vehicles. Range-extended MPVs also align with the current mainstream development trend of MPVs.

Therefore, in the still niche MPV market, "range-extended + premium" has become the optimal choice for achieving volume sales.

According to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), while the retail sales growth of extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) for the full year 2025 may not match that of pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, it still shows a 6% year-on-year increase. This at least indicates that in the crowded EREV market, there is still an opportunity to gain some market share for those entering now.

Extended-range MPVs, which combine the inherent advantages of EREV powertrains with the potential to break into the high-end MPV market, have naturally become the preferred choice for automakers entering the EREV or MPV segments. Whether extended-range technology can help more domestic brands successfully achieve premium positioning is something we shall wait and see.